Would you believe that I once shook the hands of this great man ?
This is a statement which to make, surely not anyone can !
It was a highpoint of my quiet life, certainly I am still ever so proud-
to boast of this occasion and ever so anxious to tell all about.
As Secretary of a German Club of refugees in New York I was living,
whereas this learned man lectures in Princeton, N.J. was giving.
The president of our club was not afraid to issue an invitation
to the great scientist, indicating that we all came from the same nation.
Lo and behold, he indeed accepted our bidding and set a date-
leaving it to us to find a suitable place which would highly rate.
You can imagine the excitement and joy this provoked in our small group-
because now, all of a sudden, we could consider ourselves"in the loop".
The place I have now forgotten, but the hand shake-should I stop washing my hand?
He spoke in German with a dialect and the impact was ever so grand.
An outstanding event in the life of an ordinary guy and I must boast :
to one of the smartest thinkers of the world I was allowed to play host !
OTTO ROSS
January 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
T H E D E S K C A L E N D A R
Each day it stares at me - a gift from my fine nephew, you see.
It dares me to pull another page, it irks me, to some degree.
With the jokes and pictures on it, I hate to get rid of the present day,
because getting older is not much pleasure, I wish the date would stay !
But, to keep up with the world, I have to remove what is now past-
no matter how you wish for it to remain, there is no way that it will last.
Unfortunately, what happened is now history and down the drain -
you are ever so lucky if good memories of the past will remain.
Inexorably you are forced to remove another page that now has gone stale,
should you want to discuss past events-they sound like an old wives' tale.
Just like old newspapers are only good for wrapping today's fish-
to bring back any past event turns into an unfulfilled, too late wish.
To let missed opportunities be bygone is the very best thing to do,
the calendar with the proper date reminds you what today is new.
It tells you that things have come up that for now are the proper date :
so, do what the new page demands because for yesterday's it is too late !
It dares me to pull another page, it irks me, to some degree.
With the jokes and pictures on it, I hate to get rid of the present day,
because getting older is not much pleasure, I wish the date would stay !
But, to keep up with the world, I have to remove what is now past-
no matter how you wish for it to remain, there is no way that it will last.
Unfortunately, what happened is now history and down the drain -
you are ever so lucky if good memories of the past will remain.
Inexorably you are forced to remove another page that now has gone stale,
should you want to discuss past events-they sound like an old wives' tale.
Just like old newspapers are only good for wrapping today's fish-
to bring back any past event turns into an unfulfilled, too late wish.
To let missed opportunities be bygone is the very best thing to do,
the calendar with the proper date reminds you what today is new.
It tells you that things have come up that for now are the proper date :
so, do what the new page demands because for yesterday's it is too late !
Friday, January 21, 2011
T H E C A L E N D A R
Inexorably time moves forward, it never does stand still !
Our keeping up with it surely depends on God's will.
From the time we enter this world our days are measured-
that is why each second of our existence should be treasured.
It is well known that we are prone to waste a precious hour
unaware of worthwhile moments our existence we devour.
Steadily each calendar page makes way for the one to come
sometimes too fast and then again the pace may be numb.
This gadget was invented long ago, did improve with age,
until the time comes when it is no longer used page by page.
The computer now shows the date and changes it daily:
no need to tear off, waiting for the day of rest ever so gaily.
We know that the sands of time run down with steady grind,
if nothing upsets the routine our fate is considered very kind.
Should something change the succession of the daily numbers
a feeling of dread will surely interfere with our sound slumbers.
January 17,2011
Our keeping up with it surely depends on God's will.
From the time we enter this world our days are measured-
that is why each second of our existence should be treasured.
It is well known that we are prone to waste a precious hour
unaware of worthwhile moments our existence we devour.
Steadily each calendar page makes way for the one to come
sometimes too fast and then again the pace may be numb.
This gadget was invented long ago, did improve with age,
until the time comes when it is no longer used page by page.
The computer now shows the date and changes it daily:
no need to tear off, waiting for the day of rest ever so gaily.
We know that the sands of time run down with steady grind,
if nothing upsets the routine our fate is considered very kind.
Should something change the succession of the daily numbers
a feeling of dread will surely interfere with our sound slumbers.
January 17,2011
T H E B O O K W O R M
That's what I justifiably could be called when I was a kid.
Starting to read at night with a flashlight-that was it !
Children's book in my native German were eagerly devoured,
it brings back memories when my imagination was thus empowered.
Stories of ancient knights performing many a heroic deed
gave way to the famous poets, whose names to mention is no need.
When I reached thirteen my birthday brought gifts of many a famous book,
to gather a small library very little effort in coming years it took.
Came time when I had to leave my treasures to go to foreign lands,
knowing that, with my parents, they would be left in good hands.
Then came the Nazis, they got all those fine books on the shelf-
no way to save them, I was lucky to be able to do this for myself.
With good fortune my family was safe, but the tomes were left behind
and, ever so often their whereabouts has crossed my mourning mind.
They were replaced some, but when I had to move to a smaller place,
once again, the abandonment of these literary joys I had to face.
Now, there is no room to gather another such collection
and, while working in a Library, only their nearness brings satisfaction.
The old eyes get easily tired and the brain is not what it used to be :
no longer a book worm, now it is just "crimis" and magazines for me !
Starting to read at night with a flashlight-that was it !
Children's book in my native German were eagerly devoured,
it brings back memories when my imagination was thus empowered.
Stories of ancient knights performing many a heroic deed
gave way to the famous poets, whose names to mention is no need.
When I reached thirteen my birthday brought gifts of many a famous book,
to gather a small library very little effort in coming years it took.
Came time when I had to leave my treasures to go to foreign lands,
knowing that, with my parents, they would be left in good hands.
Then came the Nazis, they got all those fine books on the shelf-
no way to save them, I was lucky to be able to do this for myself.
With good fortune my family was safe, but the tomes were left behind
and, ever so often their whereabouts has crossed my mourning mind.
They were replaced some, but when I had to move to a smaller place,
once again, the abandonment of these literary joys I had to face.
Now, there is no room to gather another such collection
and, while working in a Library, only their nearness brings satisfaction.
The old eyes get easily tired and the brain is not what it used to be :
no longer a book worm, now it is just "crimis" and magazines for me !
Monday, January 3, 2011
What does it mean to us old folks when the clock strikes 12 at midnight ?
We already can count our blessings to be still around -- is that not right ?
Of course, we are long tucked away in our warm, cozy and soft bed,
let the Young Ones enjoy the bubbly-not for us now and enough said.
It is a good time to think back on this last day of another year,
to count our blessings, to reminisce of those who were so dear.
When we were able together to share festivities and much fun,
and, if we had a good life, we know we had a very good run.
On the other hand this time of change makes us fully aware
that those we loved and shared hours with, are no longer there.
But we should readily admit this is not to shed empty tears,
we were blessed to spend much joy with our, now gone, dears,
To our offspring our thoughts should be directed-may they be well:
we had our time and must move on and at some time we shall.
Yet, a new year is always good reason to hope and pray
that in peace and quiet good times may still come our way .
OTTO ROSS
December 31,2010
We already can count our blessings to be still around -- is that not right ?
Of course, we are long tucked away in our warm, cozy and soft bed,
let the Young Ones enjoy the bubbly-not for us now and enough said.
It is a good time to think back on this last day of another year,
to count our blessings, to reminisce of those who were so dear.
When we were able together to share festivities and much fun,
and, if we had a good life, we know we had a very good run.
On the other hand this time of change makes us fully aware
that those we loved and shared hours with, are no longer there.
But we should readily admit this is not to shed empty tears,
we were blessed to spend much joy with our, now gone, dears,
To our offspring our thoughts should be directed-may they be well:
we had our time and must move on and at some time we shall.
Yet, a new year is always good reason to hope and pray
that in peace and quiet good times may still come our way .
OTTO ROSS
December 31,2010
THERE THEY GO
It is up to me to wish them a cheerful good -bye . > > May the Lord be with them when so far they fly. > > In spirit I shall be following them every blessed day. > > My thoughts are with them and about them, come what may. > > > > They both have earned a month of rest and days so grand, > > may all their new experiences be great in a foreign land. > > Trusting that their E-mails will be full of joy and steady- > > to get good news and to answer I shall be ever so ready. > > > > To be in the Far East, may the sun on them pleasantly shine, > > on these two people-they are the ones who are all mine. > > To see the world is a great change from everyday living, > > hopefully these days will be full of getting and giving. > > > > Looking forward to their return I shall utter a fervent prayer- > > when that day comes life will be fuller and again gayer. > > A pleasant journey is what I wish for them, let all go well, > > they are the highpoint of my long life-what more can I tell ! > > > > |
H O P E
What would mankind do without hope or expectation ?
There is always something to look forward to, be it self or nation.
Things change like the weather: they turn bad, get better, stay the same,
if we can't master any of this, we only have ourselves to blame.
Hope is what keeps us going from day to day, or we would be lost-
we have to make the best of our lives, muster each problem at any cost.
Nothing stays steady there is always something to upset our thinking,
yet, surely, we must find a view that keeps our eyes from blinking.
To look for a better world is one is one of the quests on our mind,
our wishes should be fulfilled and that nature will be very kind.
Of course, there will be upsets we are expected to master,
while we hope all will go well and there is no threat of disaster.
To be an Optimist will greatly help to face the daily grind,
it will aid to overcome the vicissitudes and clear the mind.
Hope springs eternal, ever since there was another rising sun :
to keep thinking good thoughts will be beneficial to everyone !
There is always something to look forward to, be it self or nation.
Things change like the weather: they turn bad, get better, stay the same,
if we can't master any of this, we only have ourselves to blame.
Hope is what keeps us going from day to day, or we would be lost-
we have to make the best of our lives, muster each problem at any cost.
Nothing stays steady there is always something to upset our thinking,
yet, surely, we must find a view that keeps our eyes from blinking.
To look for a better world is one is one of the quests on our mind,
our wishes should be fulfilled and that nature will be very kind.
Of course, there will be upsets we are expected to master,
while we hope all will go well and there is no threat of disaster.
To be an Optimist will greatly help to face the daily grind,
it will aid to overcome the vicissitudes and clear the mind.
Hope springs eternal, ever since there was another rising sun :
to keep thinking good thoughts will be beneficial to everyone !
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